Have any teachers gone back to uni?

[cheeseismyspiritanimal]

Hi all - not sure this is the best place to post but couldn't see where would be more suitable.

I currently work full time in a primary school on UPS. I've been feeling quite unhappy for the last year with so much on my plate (more than the average class teacher without going into identifying specifics). Gradually over that year I've fallen out of love with teaching and it all came to a head over Christmas when I was almost on the verge of having to be signed off.

Anyway, over the holidays I decided to look for something new or retrain and it's the only thing that helped me feel strong enough to return to work in January. Feeling much better now but just 'going through the motions' most days.

I have been thinking about when I would like to do instead and have been thinking about training as an Ed Psych. It's something I've always felt I'd like to go into at some point but hadn't made plans.

However, as much as I'd love to do it, it would be a big financial sacrifice (although doable) and would take 4 years to do. Just wondering if anyone has gone back to uni after teaching and how it worked out for them? The thought of doing what I'm doing now for the next 30 odd years fills me with dread but I wonder if spending the next 4 years at uni would be the right move.

One of my friends left teaching and went to get her SENDCO qualifications and MA in Special Needs. She had a few years out and did supply to keep her hand in

Another went to do a psychology conversion before trying for an EdPsych course. She is part way through it and again did supply and her DH did the lions share of bills etc. They've had to tighten their belts a lot.

I know a load of teachers who went back to uni with the aim of becoming an Ed psych (conversion course) - so far I know one of them that has got on the doctorate! It’s very competitive, lots of people give up and the lady I know who did it had to try 3 times to be accepted. You have to factor in longer than 4 years cos of probable repeat applications and the way the application deadlines fall. However that’s not to say the others haven’t gone on to do other related phds/ got alternative jobs/ been promoted. Also, the only way you will ever get to be an Ed psych is if you at least try, iyswim.

Thanks for the responses.

That's my fear - that I could be stuck in a cycle of waiting to get on the doctorate and having to do supply with the possibility of never getting in. But like you say, if I don't try then I'll never know!

Just feels like such a big risk, leaving a secure job for a 'dream' that may never happen. But equally I know that teaching long term is not for me.

Yes...gone bk to uni to train in something completely different..follow your dreams.

Whatever you do dont stay in a job you hate for 30 years.

After teaching for 15 years I did a psychology conversion course whilst teaching p/t, worked as an assistant ed psy and am now doing the Ed Psych doctorate. It's been a long road, a massive pay cut, but I don't regret it for a minute. I see my kids, I work normal hours, my evenings are my own, even studying for the doctorate, and I am not stressed.
Good luck OP.

Thank you @hackneyzoo that's really inspiring to read.

Can I ask, was it ok juggling the masters conversion with pt teaching? I'm hoping to do supply alongside my masters which I think will be doable as long as I can get the work.

I did the psych degree partly when teaching and partly whilst I'd taken time out when my babies were born, with the aim of going down a psych route. However the ed psych used to be a masters and is now 3 years and I moved house. I dont think i can do 3 years full time and move us/commute while the kids are in primary as they'd never see me.

Would be different if I had a uni near me - they also rely on me to take them to clubs etc. I did go and visit the local Ed Psych service though, and was warned that it is very small and covers a huge area - so another fear (for me) would be jobs available on completion as we dont really wamt to move! One I spoke to also said she found it hard as it wasnt quite what she expected. With all the constraints on schools she knew her recommendations couldnt be followed out and she wouldnt always have continuity with the child etc.

I so so so wished Id qualified prekids so I had it to return to. I think if you can make it work go for it. I cant see how its only 4 years though!

After 25 years of teaching.. needed a change. Now doing masters in social work... had some experience prior to teaching. Absolutely loving it.. just what I needed. Am a single mum, money is fight and although I know it's a tough career a change is definitely as good as a rest. Have to say apart from some of my classes I miss nothing. I go to bed in a Sunday excited for Monday!!

Oooh id just being googling the masters in SW locally. Is it very full time? Ive not been full time since ive had kids.

It does look a route id be qualified for but after teaching i have bad imposter syndrome and worry i couldnt do it!

Amd yes worried abo ut funding the 2 years!

@cheeseismyspiritanimal what does the 4 year route consist of? I thought it was longer than that. Do you already have a psychology degree?

It would be a psychology conversion masters (1year) then the doctorate (3 years) so a total of 4 years studying unless I've missed something. Obviously would be dependent on when I could apply and whether I get onto each course.

SW is full on... but refreshing to be encouraged to make my own decisions.. stressful but in a different way. But feel like a grown up professional! Lucky to have an NHS bursery.. last year. except wales and Scotland .
It's 2 year mainly placement lots of variety.. job prospects better and more chance of promotion.

@cheeseismyspiritanimal, I started doing the conversion full-time, which was two days a week to get it done in a year, this was too much alongside three days of teaching and three children at home, so I did it part time over 2 years. I was in uni a day, studied for a day and then taught for 3 days. It was managable, there were busy times when essays were due and exams etc, but they were only for short bursts.

The government have just announced funding for extra training places for the Ed Psych Doctorate, so hopefully a few more universites will start offering it and those that do will have more room.

In most local authorities in England there is a shortage of Ed Psychs, so in the current climate there is a lot of choice for where you would like to work. LAs where Ihave worked or have had placement seem really supportive of flexible hours, p/t working and term-time only contracts, which is a massive bonus.

Lots of useful info here AEP website
And info about addiotional funding on BPS website

Meant to say I also worked as an assistant psychologist in a local authority for 2 years, I think that really helped me get aplace on the doctorate as I didn't have a psychology background and it gave me the experience I needed. In my training cohort of 10 there are 5 other teachers and 3 of them have come straight from being primary school teachers.

I would say try and get as much experience as you can where you can demonstrate that you apply psychology to your working practice, e.g. using evidence based interventions with children, demonstarting your understanding of inclusive practice, thinking about different pedagogies that shape your teaching etc. And look at the university websites of the courses you are interested in, visit thier Ed Psych open days, which are normally in the autumn and look at thier specs to see what they are looking for in an applicant as some of them vary.

There's also a facebook page Educational Psychology Doctorate Applicants which has loads of info on and dates of open days etc.